By the Advocate Editorial Board
March 4, 2014 at 5:04 p.m.Updated March 3, 2014 at 9:04 p.m.

Over the past few years, the Victoria Main Street Program has worked to revitalize the downtown area by bringing in new businesses and attracting visitors. The program has been so successful that it was recognized by the Texas Main Street Program and was recommended for national accreditation through the National Main Street Program.

On Thursday, the Main Street Program is inviting residents to take part in a fundraiser to help continue all of the good work that has already been done to revitalize downtown. The Main Street Program's annual Donor and Stakeholder Appreciation Soiree will begin at 5:30 p.m. with cocktails at 212 N. Main St. followed by a presentation by guest speaker Gary Lindner, CEO and president of PeopleFund, who will discuss topics relevant to businesses and look at alternative ways to fund business endeavors.

The event will also feature a silent auction and a taste of downtown Victoria with dishes from different downtown restaurants including The Sendera, Mumphord's Place Bar-B-Q, the PumpHouse Riverside Restaurant and Bar, Huvar's Artisan Market and Catering, Yummy Finds Eatery and Cupcakery and more. The event is open to the public. Tickets cost $50 and can be purchased through the Leo J. Welder Center box office.

"The event is directed at anyone who would have interest in seeing the revitalization of downtown continue," Louise Hull-Patillo, past president of the program, said.

This event is a great chance to support a program that has brought plenty of creativity and revitalization to the downtown area. We've already seen fun events such as the pub crawl and the murder mystery game that were aimed at bringing more residents downtown and showcasing what is available. We look forward to hearing what business advice Lindner will bring and how that information will be used to help future businesses succeed in Victoria. Our downtown is a thriving place, but there is still work to be done as the revitalization effort continues.

The Main Street Program's goal is "economic development through historic preservation, Hull-Patillo said. We've seen some success already through the program's facade grant program, which helps owners of buildings with historic fronts to pay for restoration efforts.

We would love to see the good work the Main Street Program is doing continue, so we encourage anyone who is interested in starting a business, learning how to improve a current business or those who simply wish to learn about the efforts to improve Victoria's downtown to come and take part in this fundraiser. The money will go back into a program dedicated to investing in and improving our hometown. By supporting this program, we support the future prosperity of our community.

This editorial reflects the views of the Victoria Advocate's editorial board.